Week 2- Deontology + Immanuel Kant

Who is Immanuel Kant?

Categorical imperative (e.g. everyone must stay truthful to the commands and moral laws regardless of their own decisions)

What is deontology + who founded the theory?

Study of duty and obligation, it gives us moral obligation to do our due diligence: Immanuel Kant

What is Kant's perspective on "what is ethically right + ethically wrong?"

We must not think about the consequences of our actions or the outcomes that are expected but the truth

Why does Kant reject consequences?

1. You can't control the outcome of your choices

2. If you focus on the outcome then it weakens your morality (e.g. "what makes things right or wrong or good and bad")

Describe the categorical imperative.

It is the unconditional absolute w/o expectation and moral command which is not for someone's own sake (e.g. "everyone must")

What are Kant's 4 ways of thinking?

1. Formulate a maxim (test rule)= truth and a lie

2. Translate your maxim into your universal law= everyone must/ must not tell the truth) *be as general as possible*

3. Ask yourself: Can I as a rationale being, will that everyone act this way *check on this with your teacher*

4. Does this law respect the inherent worth of every person

Use Kant's 4 ways of thinking to make a decision.

If you hide an innocent person from violent criminals in order to protect his life, and the criminals come to your door asking if the person is with you, what should you do?

Use Kant's 4 ways of thinking to make a decision.

Hurricane Katrina: You are running out of supplies during the natural disaster but there is a hospital down the road that is fully stocked with equipment. What do you do?

Use Kant's 4 ways of thinking to make a decision.

Use Kant's 5 ways of thinking to make a decision.

What are the rules to a categorical imperative?

1. Tell the truth

2. Keep your promises

3. Don't kill yourself

4. Help others

5. Don't steal

Why does the universal law have to be unconditional?

Has no conditions, there is only the truth

Define pluralistic deontology. Who founded this theory?

Pluralistic deontology: our prima (first) facie (look) duties (e.g. we have more than one duty to tell the truth):

W.D. Ross: founded the flaw that reduces all duties into one rule

What are the criticisms of deontology?

1. Consequences (e.g. does not address the moral conflict)

2. Time consuming

3. Inflexible (e.g. no bending of rules)

What are the strengths in deontology?

1. Always result in an answer

2. Puts your emotions/feelings or biases aside

3. Equality

4. Categorical imperative is always right

5. Defends our rights

What are the 2 leading theories in healthcare?

Deontology + utilitarianism

What are the 7 independent duties of Ross's view of pluralistic deontology?

It goes beyond your one duty of telling the truth.

1. Non-maleficence (e.g. do no harm or prevent harm)

2. Beneficence (e.g. doing good)

3. Fidelity (e.g. faithfulness)

4. Reparation (e.g. fixing your mistakes)

5. Gratitude

6. Self- improvement

7. Justice